Bangladesh Coast Guard on Saturday detain Malaysia-bound Rohingya refugees, Bangladeshi nationals, and human traffickers near Chera Dwip in the St Martin Islands Dhaka TribuneHuman trafficking in Cox’s Bazar has increased, with at least 300 Rohingyas and 20 human traffickers being detained by law enforcement in the past three monthsThe Bangladesh Coast Guard on Saturday, detained Malaysia-bound Rohingya refugees, Bangladeshi nationals, and human traffickers on the Bay of Bengal. The team apprehended a Malaysia-bound fishing trawler carrying 22 Rohingyas, seven Bangladeshi nationals, and three human traffickers, around 4am near Chera Dwip in the St Martin Islands. The arrested traffickers were identified as: Md Kabir, Md Hossain, and Md Abdullah, residents of Teknaf’s St Martin’s IslandSt Martin’s Island Coast Guard Station In-Charge, Lt Cdr Sheikh Mahmud Hasan, said: “Acting on a tip, the coast guard conducted drives on the outskirts of Teknaf, including Chera Dwip, and apprehended the men.”“The detained Rohingyas have been handed over to Teknaf police station, where a case will be filed in this connection,” he added. Cox’s Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police, Md Iqbal Hossain, said: “Police are on alert against human traffickers at the camps. As the ocean is relatively calm, traffickers are targeting Rohingyas.”Human trafficking in Cox’s Bazar has increased, with at least 300 Rohingyas and 20 human traffickers being detained by law enforcement agencies in the past three months.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 30, 2019 17:06 UTC